History and Location
The University was established by statute in 1873 as the "Third District Normal School" with a mission of educating teachers for the public schools of the region from St. Louis to the Bootheel of Missouri. By legislative enactment in 1919, the institution became "Southeast Missouri StateTeachers' College" and was authorized to grant degrees. The name "Southeast Missouri State College" was adopted on September 21, 1946, by permission of the General Assembly. The expanding educational mission of the school was reflected in the latest name change on August 24, 1972, when the Board of Regents, acting under authority from the legislature, approved the name "Southeast Missouri State University."
Cape Girardeau, the home of Southeast Missouri State University, is situated on the Mississippi River and is one of the most historic cities in Missouri. The earliest European settlement dates to about 1733, and the town of Cape Girardeau was incorporated in 1808. The city offers a variety of cultural, recreational, educational, and health facilities to its nearly 40,000 residents and serves as the principal commercial center for a wide area with a population of over 250,000, providing numerous employment opportunities for students.
The University's main campus of over 300 acres includes the 100-year-old landmark building, Academic Hall, situated on a hill overlooking the city and the river. A second campus, located on the river south of Cape Girardeau's historic downtown area, is being constructed to house a new School of Visual and Performing Arts, a regional museum, and state-affiliated welcome center starting in 2007. The University is developing a new, 252-acre demonstration farm west of Cape Girardeau and is in the process of converting an existing 400-acre farm on Interstate 55 north of Cape Girardeau into an applied research and technology park. In addition, the University has three regional campuses south of Cape Girardeau - at Kennett, Malden, and Sikeston - and it administers the Perryville Area Higher Education Center where classes are taught by faculty from both Southeast and Mineral Area College.
|
